This study analyses the temporal as well as the spatial shift in cropping pattern in Andhra Pradesh during the period from 1971 to 2009. The temporal associations between crop diversity, weather and economic variables have been examined to understand adaptation dynamics by means of cropping pattern shift. We find a significant impact of rabi (winter) season temperature and kharif (summer) season rainfall on cropping diversity. Along with mean weather, annual rainfall distribution has a significant, positive influence on crop diversity. The intra-seasonal distribution of dry days during rabi and kharif has a heterogeneous impact on crop diversity in districts of Andhra Pradesh. Within the state, geographical redistribution of rice area over the years can be considered as adaptation to climatic risk; however, sustainability of the emerging cropping pattern is under question due to a declining share of dry land crops during the study period. Drawing from the results, improving cropping intensity, increasing use of technology inputs and employing a season-wise incentive policy can be useful measures for sustainable diversification of the crop sector in the state.

India has witnessed fairly high economic growth since economic liberalisation started in 1991. However, agriculture has remained excluded from the growth experienced in other economic sectors. This growth paradox has serious implications for the agricultural land use pattern. This study uses the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis to examine the impact of agricultural technology and economic development on agricultural land expansion in India. Panel data regression is performed on an unbalanced sample covering information from 25 Indian states for the period 1990 to 2008. Our results suggest a nonlinear (N shaped) relationship between agricultural land expansion and Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) per capita. Two incomes turning points, showing the level of NSDP per capita at which inflection between agricultural land expansion and NSDP per capita takes place, occur at INR 20986.14 and INR 42855.10 respectively. We find mixed results as far as the impact of technological variables on agricultural land expansion is concerned. The study concludes that rapid economic growth in the post liberalisation period has failed to reverse agricultural land expansion in India.